Mobile home underframe construction



June 7, 1966 A. R. sTEcK 3,254,914

MOBILE HOME UNDERFRAME CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Jan. 5, 1964 6Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VENTOR. ALLEN R. STECK ATTORNEYS WMMQW June 7, 1966A. R. STECK 3,254,914

MOBILE HOME UNDERFRAME conswnucnou Original Filed Jan. 3, 1964 6Sheets-Sheet Z FIG-3 INVENTOR ALLEN R. STECK WMMQW ATTORNEYS June 7,1966 A. R. STECK 3,254,914

MOBILE HOME UNDERFRAME CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Jan. 5, 1964 6Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-6 g 53 j z A Q N 57 5 55 52 I I 1. 7 i I hi 1' h 5; Il 42 52-5 56 *57 4-6 47 36 INVENTOR.

ALLEN R. STECK ATTORNEYS A. R. STECK MOBILE HOME UNDERFRAME CONSTRUCTIONJune 7, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Jan. 5, 1964 INVENTOR.ALLEN R. STECK June 7, 1966 A. R. STECK MOBILE HOME UNDERFRAMECONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 5. 1964 INVENTOR.ALLEN R. STECK BY W4LMMQ ATTORNEYS &2

Hill

June 7, 1966 A. R. sTEcK MOBILE HOME UNDERFRAME CONSTRUCTION 6Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Jan. 5, 1964 M 2 4 I R OK 4 4 WC E p W9 2I i 1 R 1 N a f M I l 2 A w 6 m a 3 w w I w I A 9 7 u M 6. IIIJ M 0 3 MB 5 3 W m m W F m I ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,254,914 MOBILE HOMEUNDERFRAME CONSTRUCTION Allen R. Steck, Brookville, Ohio, assignor toVindale Corporation, Brookville, Ohio, a corporation of OhioContinuation of application Ser. No. 335,485, Jan. 3, 1964. Thisapplication May 26, 1965, Ser. No. 465,818 17 Claims. (Cl. 296-28) Thisapplication is a continuation of my copending application Serial No.335,485, filed January 3, 1964, now abandoned. v

The invention disclosed and claimed in this application relates to housetrailers and to the construction thereof, and especially to theconstruction of undercarriage frames, bases, or beds for such trailers,these frames not only forming light strong supports for the trailers butalso providing basements therefor.

Heretofore, trailers have been constructed in a great number of ways.However, usually longitudinal metallic members are secured together bysimilar metallic beams placed crosswise between such longitudinal beamsand secured thereto. Then the floor, sides and top of the house trailerare built on top of these cross-wise metallic beams. The result is thatthe bed or base of the trailer is either not strong enough or else moreprobably is extremely heavy and little or no space is provided for aheated basement or even for the convenient introduction of suchdesirable features as heating ducts, hot and cold water supply pipes,drain pipes, and electric wiring, inasmuch as the cross-wise and/ orlongitudinal beams often interfere with the continuity of such ducts,pipes and wiring.

One of the objects of the invention hereof is the provision of aconstruction of a base for a house trailer which is relatively strong.

A further object of the invention disclosed here-in is the provision ofa construction of a base for a house trailer which is relatively light.

A further object of the invention disclosed herein is the provision of abase for a house trailer which has a relatively high strength-weightratio.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a house trailer inwhich there is provided a heated basement.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a construction ofa base for a house trailer so arranged as to facilitate ease ofinstallation of heating, plumbing, and wiring, eliminating the necessityfor running plumbing and heating lines above the floor level.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a mobile home ofthe equivalent of a radiant heated floor provided by the construction ofheat from a duct positioned inside of the basement of the trailer toheat the basement and then by conduct-ion from the basement through thefloor to the interior side of the floor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a mobile home orhouse trailer of such construction that such mobile home or housetrailer may be produced with substantially any desired floor plan onvirtually the same frame and floor jig.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a mobile home orhouse trailer of an underframe, base or bed having at least a reductionin weight over. conventional frames with increased strength, therebyachieving economies in undercarriage requirements.

A further object of the invention is the reduction of direct labor andoverhead required in building a base, bed or underframe for a mobilehome or house trailer.

A further object of the invention is the reduction of the material costrequired to build a base, bed or underframe for a mobile home or housetrailer.

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following specification, the accompanying drawingsillustrating several embodiments of the invention and from the claimsfollowing the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a house trailer forming oneembodiment of the invention involved herein and constructed inaccordance with the said invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view (with parts broken away) of abed or base or undercarriage frame structure upon which the trailershown in FIG. 1 is built and of a part of the supporting wheel andtowing bar structure therefor;

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical section of the base and wheel structureshown in FIG. 2 taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 andlooking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to a portion of FIG. 3but looking in a somewhat opposite direction and shown on an enlargedscale in order to show more clearly the construction involved;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially onthe line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken substantially onthe line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective, showing the mobile home of FIG. 1, withthe wheel structure and towing bar structure removed and with the homepermanently installed upon a concrete slab placed 'upon the earth;

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective of the wheel and towing bar truckremoved from the house so that the truck may be moved back to thefactory;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in perspective and with parts broken awayand showing the bed or base or lower frame of another mobile homeconstituting another embodiment of the invention involved herein;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the bed or base or frame shown inFIG. 9, intermediate portions being broken away;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in vertical section'of said bed, or base,or frame of FIG. 9 taken substantially on the line 1111 of FIG. 10, andone side being broken away;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view in vertical section, both ends beingbroken away, and taken substantially on the line 12--12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view in vertical section, both ends beingbroken away, and taken substantially on the line 1313 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view in vertical sections, the rear end beingbroken away and the sections being taken substantially on the line 14-44of FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view in vertical section with intermediateparts broken away, and taken substantially on the line 15-15 of FIG. 10;and

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view in perspective looking upward from under aportion of the bed, base, or frame, shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the bottomcover being removed so that the interior construction may be seen.

Referring now especially to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 for a more detaileddescription of the first disclosed embodiment of the inventions asapplied to a full perimeter frame, it may be seen that there is shown ahouse trailer generally designated 21 having a body 22 and wheels suchas 23 and 24 supporting the trailer. The body 22 is provided with sidewalls such as 25, with end walls such as 26, and with a top such as 27.

The body 22 is carried by a base structure or bed or lower frame 28(i.e., an undercarriage frame) which is shown most clearly in FIGS. 2, 3and 4. This bed structure comprises a pair of longitudinally extendingtransversely spaced structural metallic beams such as the I- I erallyvertically to form pairs of cross members.

beams 31 and 32. Supported on top of the I-beams on the top flangethereof are a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely orientedupper wooden joist or cross members such as 33, 33a, 33c, 33d, etc.Supported on the lower flange are a plurality of transversely orientedlower wooden cross members 34, 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, etc., which may bepreferably as shown, of a similar crosssectional dimension than themembers 33, 33a, etc. It will be seen that these lower cross members 34,34a, etc., are positioned with their ends between the top flanges 35 andthe bottom flanges 36 of the I-beams and that the lower members 34, 34b,etc., rest upon the inwardly extending bottom flanges 36 of the I-beams(e.g.,- see FIG. 3). These lower members 34 thus may, as shown, abut theweb 37 which joins the flanges 35 and 36.

The upper cross members 33 and 33a, etc., are joined to the upper flangeof the I-beams 31 and 32, as best shown in FIG. 3, by screws such as 38,and the lower cross members 34, 34a, etc., are joined to the inwardlyextending lower flange of the I-beams by screws such as 39. Trim memberssuch as 41 are provided outside the ends of the upper cross members 33,33b, etc., and spacer members such as 42 (see FIG. 4) are providedbetween the lower cross members 34, 34a, etc., on the lower edge orflange of the I-beams.

The upper and lower cross members are aligned gen- In FIG. 4, 33 and 34are shown as one aligned pair and 33g and 34g are shown as a secondaligned pair. Each pair of aligned cross members are secured together bya plurality of gussets or braces such as the plywood gusset plates 43,43a, 43b, and 43c shown in FIG. 2, the plates .44, 44a, 44b and 440shown in FIG. 3, and the plates 45,

45a, and 45b and 450 shown in FIG. 4. The gusset plates form a smallportion of the total width of the trailer and are preferably arranged intransversely spaced apart relations and in longitudinally oriented rows.

A floor 46 for the mobile :home is positioned above and is secured tothe upper surface of the upper cross members 33, 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d,33e, 33f, 33g, etc. A bottom cover 47 is secured underneath of thestructure to the lower cross members 34, 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e,'34j,34g, etc.

The I-beams 31 and 32, the upper cross members 33, 33a, etc., the lowercross members 34, 34a, etc., the gussets 43, 44, 45, etc., the floor 46and the bottom cover 47 form a box braced base structure and forms avery strong, trailer, said base having a much higher strength-weightratio than structures previously used. This box structure is enclosed ontop by the floor 46, on the bottom by the cover 47, on the sides by theI-beams 31 and 32 and on the ends by appropriate end piece-s such as 48to form a relatively tight enclosure. This structure also provides anenclosed basement for the house trailer or the mobile home withsubstantially unrestricted longitudinal passageways between adjacentgusset plates. In this basement there can be included plumbing andelectrical and heating pipes, conduits and ducts, as shown. Thisbasement becomes heated by conduction from the hot air ducts themselvesso that even the upper side of the floor 46 is heated by conduction fromthe basement, and becomes reasonably warm.

The heating system is shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6. Therein may be seen thefurnace 51, the main longitudinal duct 52 and the forward lateral duct53, the latter being provided with register openings 54 and 55. Otherregister openings not shown are provided in the longitudinal duct 52. Asshown best in FIGS. 5 and 6, the main longitudinal duct 52 is connectedby an opening 56 with the forward lateral duct 53. As also shown, theducts 52 and 53 are lined on all four sides with metal as at 57 and 58,respectively.

Means are provided including the wheels 23 and 24 and the complementarywheels 23a and 24a for supportvery lightweight base or bed or frame fortheing the trailer while travelling (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 8). Intermediatethe wheels 23 and 23a and carrying the wheels is an axle 61 andintermediate the wheels 24 and 24a is an axle 62. These axles support anauxiliary wheel supporting frame. The frame includes springs 63, 64, 65and 66 which are supported by the axles 61 and 62 and which areattached, by spring hangers such as 67, 67a, 67b, 68, etc., to shortlongitudinally extending metallic members 69 and 69a. The members 69 and69a are secured (as by Welding for example) to metallic cross members 71and 72 which are shown as channel members.

The members 71 and 72 are secured, as by bolting, to the undersides ofthe lower flanges 36 of longitudinally extending members 31 and 32. Alsosecured under the longitudinally extending members 31 and 32 near thefront of said members, as by bolting to the underside of the lowerflanges thereof, is a tow bar unit 73 which is formed substantially inthe shape of a V. It may be formed of a channel section metallic beam asshown. The

auxiliary wheel frame is thus formed of beams 71 and 72, beams 69 and69a, spring hangers 67, 67a, 67b, 68, etc., springs 63, 64, 65 and 66,and axles 61 and 62, and forms a truck for supporting the trailer body22.

If desired, the house trailer body 22 may be removed from the auxiliarywheel frame or truck and placed permanently upon the earth-as 'forexample upon a concrete slab shown at 75 in FIG. 7. To do so, the bolts,which attach the cross members 71 and 72 beneath the I-beams 31 and 32,are removed. Also, the bolts which attach the tow bar 73 underneath thelongitudinal members 31 and 32, are removed. Then the body 22 is removedfrom the auxiliary wheel frame and is lowered onto the slab 75.Thereafter the tow bar 73 is attached as shown in FIG. 8 as by bolts tothe cross member 72. The towing rig including the auxiliary wheel frameand wheels and the tow bar can then be returned to the factory in orderto be used for the transportation of another mobile home.

In FIGS. 9 to 16 inclusive, there is shown an embodiment of theinvention as applied to an outrigger frame and wherein many of the partsare indicated by the same numerals with the addition of 100. Thus, in

FIGS. 9 to 16 and especially in FIGS. 9 and 10 there is shown a base orbed or lower frame 128 having inwardly set, longitudinal I-beams 131 and132, and upper and lower wooden cross members 133 and 134 respectively.The lower cross members 134 extend to the I-beams 131 and 132 and restupon the lower ledges thereof between the lower flange and the upperflange. The upper cross members 133 are of a length corresponding to thewidth of the trailer and extend well beyond the I-beam members, andprovide overhangs as at 131 and 182. Preferably, only two gusset platesare used, and are positioned in transversely spaced relation nextadjacent the inside of the I-beams 131 and 132, defining a substantiallyunrestricted longitudinally extending basement space therebetween.

The overhang is in each case covered underneath with a sheathing as at183 and 184m order to prevent dust and dirt from the road from gettinginto the basement. The furnace 151 is located in a slightly differentposition being nearer the center of the base. Thus the position of thefurnace is not critical. The trim members 141 and 141a are of courseplaced at the extremes of the overhang.

As shown especially in FIGS. 9, 10 and 16 the-re are provided, inaddition to the heating ducts such as 152 and 153, hot and cold waterpipes and 186 and a waste outlet pipe 187. There is also providedelectrical wiring 188.

The spring hangers 167a and 167b, etc. (see FIG. 9), are secured as bywelding directly to the I-beam 132 and the corresponding hangers 168,168a and 1681) (see FIG. 13) are also secured directly to the I-beam 131by weld- As shown in FIG. 15, a blanket of insulation 191 is preferablyprovided and positioned to conform to the contour of the sheathing 183and 184 and the lower cover 147. This insulation is not shown in any ofthe drawings 1-14 and 16 because it would obscure some of the otherfeatures which it is necessary to show and because the V drawings arebelieved to be clearer without the insulation. However, it is preferablyprovided in all cases to prevent heat losses and to insulate thetrailer.

Metallic braces such as 192 suitably secured across the lower flanges ofthe I-beams 131 and 132 are provided for securing the lower cover 147 inplace.

The outrigger frame construction of this embodiment is thuscharacterized by rigidity and lightweight. The gusset plates 45 or 145are narrow as compared to the total width of the space between theI-beams 131 and 132 thereby defining therebetween an unrestricted,longitudinally extending, open space or basement within which theplumbing and the like may be received. In addition, the transverselyoriented upper cross members 133 are supported in cantilever fashion bythe rectangular construction formed by the gusset plates 145 and thelower cross members 134. It will also be appreciated that the lowercross members need not be of the same size or strength as the uppercross members, since the load placed thereon is primarily one ofcompression rather than bending-and thus smaller wooden pieces, such as2 x 2s, may be used.

The embodiments of the invention disclosed herein accordingly provide alightweight mobile home frame construction which may be employed ineither a perimeter frame or an outrigger frame. Although the preferredembodiments of the invention employ plywood gusset plates andwooden topand bottom cross members, it is within the scope of this invention toemploy other material. It is also preferable that the gusset plates berectangular, and be aligned longitudinally of the length of the frame inorder to provide the longitudinally unrestricted basement spacetherebetweens When the flooring is affixed to the upper cross members,its strength is added to the total frame, Preferably, this flooringconsists of plywood sheets which are screwed ,or otherwise suitablynailed directly to'the upper cross members. This construction,therefore, provides a high degree of resistance to transversely appliedloads.

While several specific forms of house trailers have been describedherein and while these specific forms constitute preferred embodimentsof the invention it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to these precise forms and that various changes may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionwhich is defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile home frame structure comprising:

a pair of transversely spaced beams each extending generallyhorizontally, each having a pair of flanges having upper and lowersubstantially flat surfaces generally in horizontal places, and eachhaving an elongated web joining said pair of flanges and having the sidesurfaces of said web generally in vertical planes;

a plurality of upper cross members extending horizontally and generallyperpendicular to the beams, resting on and secured to the upper surfacesof both of the beams;

a plurality of lower cross members extending horizontally and generallyperpendicular to the beams, having their ends extending between theupper and lower flanges of the beams, having said ends resting on theupper surfaces of the lower flanges of said beams, and each positionedsubstantially vertically below and thus aligned with one-of said firstmentioned upper cross members;

means comprising a plurality of substantially vertically extendinggussets each secured to one upper cross member and to its verticallyaligned lower cross member for securing each said pair of alignedmembers together; and means comprising a cover secured to the uppersurfaces of all'of said upper cross members for securing said memberstogether.

A trailer structure comprising:

a pair of transversely spaced metal beams each extending generallyhorizontally, each having a pair of flanges having upper and lowersubstantially fiat surfaces generally in horizontal planes, and each having an elongated web joining said pair of flanges and each said webhaving its side surfaces generally in vertical planes;

a plurality of upper wooden members extending horizontally and generallyperpendicular to the metal beams, and resting on and secured to theupper surfaces of both of the metal beams;

a plurality of lower wooden members extending horizontally and generallyperpendicular to the metal beams, having their ends extending betweenthe upper and lower flanges of the metal beams, having said endsres-ting on the upper surfaces of the lower flanges of said metal beams,and each positioned substantially vertically below and thus aligned withone of said first mentioned wooden members;

means, comprising a plurality of substantially vertically extendinggussets each secured to one upper wooden member and to its verticallyaligned lower wooden member for securing each said pair of alignedwooden members together; I

means comprising a cover secured to the upper surfaces of all of saidupper wooden members for securing said members together;

wheels supporting said metal beams;

side and end walls supported on said cover;

a roof supported on said side and end walls; and

means comprising a tow bar for drawing said structure on said wheels.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which saidwooden members, said gussetsand said cover form a box braced base for said trailer and in whichthere are provided in the hollow of said base:

a heating duct;

water pipes; and

electrical connections.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which there is provided a bottom securedunderneath said lower wooden memhers and in which said wooden members,said gussets,

said bottom, and said cover form an enclosed box braced base for saidtrailer and in which there are provided in the hollow of said base:

a heating duct;

water pipes; and

electrical connections.

5. The structure of claim 2 in which the wheels are inward from saidlongitudinally extending beams.

6. The structure of claim 2 in which the wheels are outward from saidlongitudinally extending metallic beams.

7. The structure of claim 2 in which the wheels are positioned outwardfrom said longitudinally extending metallic beams but inward from thesides of said house trailer vehicle.

:8. The structure of claim 2 in which the wheels supporting saidstructure are secured to an auxiliary wheel supporting frame consistingof:

a pair of laterally extend-ing metallic beams connected to andpositioned beneath said longitudinally extending metallic beams;

a pair of supplementary metallic beams extending lona plurality ofspring hangers secured .to and beneath said supplementary longitudinallyextending beams; springs secured to said spring hangers; and

I at least one axle secured to said springs and carryrigidly afiixed tothe top and bottom members of said cross member pairs and beingtransversely spaced from each other inwardly of said I-beams providingcantilever support for the portions of said top meming said wheels.lbers which extend outwardly of said Lbeams. and 9. A frame for a mobilehome comprising: providing therebetween a basement for said mobile 2.pair of spaced apart beams extending the length of home.

said home, 13. An outrigger frame for a mobile home, comprising; aplurality of transversely positioned upper members a pair of spacedapart I-beams extending longitudinally positioned on an upper surface ofsaid beams in lon- 10 of the home having a spaced apart width less thangitudinally spaced apart relation for supporting a the width of saidhome, floor thereon, a plurality of longitudinally spaced upper woodencross a plurality of lower transverse cross members corremembersextending transversely of said I-beams and sponding in relativelongitudinal position to said supported on the upper surfaces thereofand extendupper cross members and extending into supported ing outwardlyof said I-beams with a transverse relation with one of said beams ateach end of said length corresponding generally to the width of saidcross members forming cooperating pairs of upper home, and lower crossmembers, a plurality of lower wooden cross members there being aplurality of gusset plates extending between the upper one of said lowermembers for each of said upper and lower members of said pairs andrigidly secured members and extending between said I-beams with at saidcross members with at least two of said gusset the ends thereof beingsupported on the inwardly plates being provided for each of said crossmemextending bottom flanges of said I-beams, ber pairs in transverselyspaced relation, with the and a pair of transversely spaced plywoodgusset plates width of each individual gusset plate forming a small foreach of said cross member pairs with said plates part of the width ofsaid mobile home and defining being rigidly afiixed to the top andbottom members an open space therebetween. of said cross member pairsand being transversely 10. The frame of claim 9 wherein said gussetplates are spaced from each other inwardly of said I-beams andpositioned on said member pairs in generally longitunext adjacent saidI-beams providing cantilever supdinally aligned relationship providingtherebetween a lonport for the portions of said top members whichexgitudinally extending basement for the substantially un- 0 tendoutwardly of said I-beams and providing thererestricted running ofconduits, conductors and the like. between a basement for said mobilehome.

11. A frame for a mobile home comprising: 14. A mobile home frame andtruck assembly coma pair of spaced apart beams extending the length ofprising:

said home along the perimeter thereof, a pair of spaced apart beamsextending generally longia plurality of transversely positioned upperwooden tudinally lengthwise of said home;

cross members positioned on an upper surface of a plurality oftransversely positioned upper joist memsaid beams in longitudinallyspaced apart'relation bers on an upper surface of said beams in longiforsupporting a floor thereon, tudinally spaced relation for supporting afloor a plurality. of lower wooden transverse cross members thereon;

each corresponding in relative longitudinal position 40 a plurality oflower transverse cross members supported to one of said upper crossmembers and extending to by said beams at each end thereof beneath saidupper and connecting with one of said beams at each end member; of saidcross members forming cooperating pairs of rigid brace means laterallyspaced between said beams upper and lower cross members, securing pairsof said upper joist members and lower a plurality of gusset platesextending generally vercross members together;

tically between the upper and lower members of a truck for said frameincluding a pair of transversely each of said pairs and rigidly securedat said cross extending beams connecting with said longitudinallymembers with at least .two of said gusset plates beextending beams andpositioned therebeneath; ing provided for each of said cross memberpairs in a pair of supplementary beam members extending transverselyspaced relation, with the width of each longitudinally parallel to butinwardly and below individual cross member forming a small part of saidpreviously mentioned longitudinally extending the width of said mobilehome and defining an open beams and secured to said transverselyextending space therebetween, beams; said gusset plates being positionedon said member spring hangers secured to said supplementary beam pairsin generally longitudinally aligned relationship members; providingtherebetween a longitudinally extending leaf springs secured to saidspring hangers; basement for the substantially unrestricted running anda transverse axle and wheel assembly secured to of conduits, conductorsand the like. said springs for supporting the weight for road travel.AI! Outrigger frame a mobile h C mPIiS- 15. The mobile home of claim 14further comprising ing means removably mounting said truck as a unit onsaid a pair of spaced apart I-beams extending longitudinally frame.

of the home having a spaced apart width less than 16. The underframeconstruction of a mobile home the width of said home, which is braced toprovide rigidity and resistance against a plurality of longitudinallyspaced upper cross memstatically applied loads during use in a fixedlocationas :bers extending transversely of said I-beams and sup- 5 ahome and against twisting and transverse shaking during ported on theupper surfaces thereof and extending transportation and which furtherprovides an enclosed outwardly of said I lbeams with a transverse lengthbasement forming a longitudinal passageway for placecorrespondinggenerally to the width of said home, ment of plumbing, wiring, heatingconduits and the like a plurality of lower cross members there being onetherein comprising a pair of spaced-apart, longitudinallyof said lowermembers for each of said upper memextending support beams having upperand lower portions, bers and extending between said I-beams with the aplurality of transversely-oriented joists supported in ends thereofbeing supported on the inwardly extendlongitudinally spaced-apartrelation on said upper portions ing bottom flanges 0f Said I- eam ofsaid beams, flooring supported on the upper surfaces and a pair oftransversely spaced gusset plates for each of said joists, a pluralityof rigid braces defining open of said cross member pairs with saidplates being spaces therebetween positioned transversely of said beamsin the space therebetween and having upper and lower ends, meansconnecting the upper end of each said brace to a joist, means connectingthe lower ends of said braces to said lower portion of said beamstransmitting such static loads from said flooring to said lower portionsof said beams and bracing said underframe construction against twistingand transverse shaking, and sealing means extending between said beamsfrom a region adjacent said lower portion of one of said beams to acorresponding region of the said other beam enclosing the space betweenthe beams forming an enclosed basement for the placement therein of suchheating conduits, plumbing, wiring, and the like.

17. The mobile home underframe construction of claim 16 in which saidbeams are I-beams having upper and lower flanges and said rigid bracesinclude lower transverse portions having opposite ends supported on saidI-beam lower flanges forming thrust transmitting connections with saidI-beams.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Evans 296-28Fellabaum 28081 Anderson 98-10 X Sarchet 280-30 La Rue 296-28 Nash 29635 Lewis 29628 Beran et a1. 296-28 Bock 296-28 De Lay 29081 Hammar 29628X BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. E. E. PORTER, Assistant Examiner.

2. A TRAILER STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED METALBEAMS EACH EXTENDING GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY, EACH HAVING A PAIR OFFLANGES HAVING UPPER AND LOWER SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT SURFACES GENERALLY INHORIZONTAL PLANES, AND EACH HAVING AN ELONGATED WEB JOINING SAID PAIR OFFLANGES AND EACH SAID WEB HAVING ITS SIDE SURFACES GENERALLY IN VERTICALPLANES; A PLURALITY OF UPPER WOODEN MEMBERS EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY ANDGENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE METAL BEAMS, AND RESTING ON AND SECUREDTO THE UPPER SURFACES OF BOTH OF THE METAL BEAMS; A PLURALITY OF LOWERWOODEN MEMBERS EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY AND GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THEMETAL BEAMS, HAVING THEIR ENDS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWERFLANGES OF THE METAL BEAMS, HAVING SAID ENDS RESTING ON THE UPPERSURFACES OF THE LOWER FLANGES OF SAID METAL BEAMS, AND EACH POSITIONEDSUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY BELOW AND THUS ALIGNED WITH ONE OF SAID FIRSTMENTIONED WOODEN MEMBERS; MEANS, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLYVERTICALLY EXTENDING GUSSETS EACH SECURED TO ONE UPPER WOODEN MEMBER ANDTO ITS VERTICALLY ALIGNED LOWER WOODEN MEMBER FOR SECURING EACH SAIDPAIR OF ALIGNED WOODEN MEMBERS TOGETHER; MEANS COMPRISING A COVERSECURED TO THE UPPER SURFACES OF ALL OF SAID UPPER WOODEN MEMBERS FORSECURING SAID MEMBERS TOGETHER; WHEELS SUPPORTING SAID METAL BEAMS; SIDEAND END WALLS SUPPORTED ON SAID COVER; A ROOF SUPPORTED ON SAID SIDE ANDEND WALLS; AND MEANS COMPRISING A TOW BAR FOR DRAWING SAID STRUCTURE ONSAID WHEELS.